….Project boosts power evacuation from Azura, NDPHC plants, strengthens transmission reliability nationwide
By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on Thursday commissioned the newly completed Ihovbor/Benin and Ihovbor/Ajaokuta 330kV Turn-In Turn-Out transmission lines in Edo State, in a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s power transmission network and improving electricity delivery across the country.
The commissioning ceremony, held at the Ihovbor Transmission Substation, marked the completion of a 14-kilometre double-circuit transmission project designed to increase operational flexibility and enhance grid stability within the Benin transmission corridor.
Speaking at the event, TCN Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Dr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, described the project as a major milestone in the company’s ongoing drive to modernise and expand Nigeria’s transmission infrastructure.
According to him, the new transmission lines connect the existing Benin/Ajaokuta 330kV line to the Ihovbor substation, creating two additional power routes capable of improving network resilience and reducing transmission bottlenecks.
“The project has increased the operational flexibility of the transmission network and strengthened the resilience of power delivery within the Benin corridor,” Abdulaziz stated.
He explained that the development would enable TCN to evacuate electricity more efficiently from the Azura Power Plant and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) facility, while improving overall system reliability.
The TCN boss further disclosed that the project adds over 600 megawatts of evacuation capacity to the national grid, thereby making more bulk electricity available to distribution companies for onward supply to homes and industries nationwide.
The transmission line, he said, was energised on April 23, 2026, and has remained in operation since then, with electricity consumers already benefiting from the improved supply capacity.
Abdulaziz reiterated that TCN’s statutory responsibility is limited to transmitting electricity from generating companies to distribution load centres.
“Our job is to transmit power from the generators to the load centres. It is the responsibility of distribution companies to offtake and distribute electricity to customers,” he clarified.
He also reaffirmed the company’s commitment to expanding the nation’s transmission infrastructure to meet growing electricity demand and appealed to host communities to help safeguard critical installations against vandalism.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of Energo Nigeria, Mr. Predrag Mihel, revealed that the project involved the construction of 30 transmission towers fitted with twin Bison conductors capable of supporting up to 1.5 gigawatts of power from the NIPP and Azura plants.
In a statement on Thursday, Ndidi Mbah
General Manager, Public Affairs noted that “,
Mihel attributed the successful completion of the project to effective collaboration between TCN and Energo Nigeria.
The General Manager, Engineering, Engr. Mojid Akintola, noted that although the project was awarded in 2017, progress was initially slowed by right-of-way and funding challenges, which were later resolved.
He commended the Ihovbor host community, contractor Energo Nigeria, and members of the TCN team for their support in delivering the project.
In his remarks, the General Manager of TCN’s Benin Region, Engr. Charles Iwuamadi, stated that the project contributes more than 600MW of additional wheeling capacity to the region.
He stressed that TCN functions solely as a bulk electricity transporter and does not distribute power directly to end users, noting that distribution companies remain responsible for customer supply.
Representing the Enogie of Ihovbor/Evbueka community, Mr. Elliot Imafido praised TCN for executing the project but appealed for greater employment opportunities for community indigenes and improved electricity supply to the host community.
